I am told often that one of the hardest questions people are asked when it comes to job search and career exploration is, “What is your passion?” When confronted with this question they say that they don’t have a passion or “I don’t know.”
Too often, people who have not claimed a career such as firefighter, nurse, lawyer, or secretary fall into the misbelief that they must not have a passion. People are missing the fact that passion has to do with what you are doing, not a title. That the essence is in the work and the tasks you are performing along with who you are working with and what/who you are serving that creates the “passion.” When people describe these aspects, they feel passion.
This week, we invite you to answer the question, “What would I do—if I knew I could not fail?”
By asking this question, we move ourselves from living in our current reality to living in a field of possibility. We open our minds to thinking outside of our box—a box in which we are comfortable and used to residing.
Take some time this week to ask yourself the question and see if you can come up with 5 unique answers. Let yourself think broadly and think about all the things you love to do and would do if, in fact, you knew you would succeed.
Once you have started to imagine new possibilities, spend time creating a clear image of what it would look like, what you would be doing, how you would feel, and how others would relate to you. It’s important to realize that this exercise is about “dreaming big” and deepening your awareness of your dreams and therefore, your passion.
Once you have a clear, exciting image of your passion, only then can you begin to explore how to bring it to life and take steps towards making it a reality for your career future. Most of us can imagine the steps required to make a dream a reality if we can see the goal at the end of the journey. Success and passion are not defined in a job title. You hold the key to discovery when you explore possibilities that are meaningful and exciting to you and you alone.